Page 34 of Always Mine (The Barrington Billionaires 1)
How had he asked her to stay? The auction is an important night for all of us. That was probably the cue to remind her that she has no place in his family. In his life.
It was never supposed to be forever.
Celeste had said she’d encouraged Emily to go to Paris with Asher to wake her up, get her to see there was a whole world outside of Welchton. I wasn’t supposed to fall in love.
She skimmed her profile in the mirror dispassionately. The dress was beautifully cut and clung to her curves. Celeste had organized hair and makeup to be done professionally, and the result was a polished look Emily’s artistic eye appreciated, but she didn’t feel beautiful. She felt confused.
If he cared about me, he would have tried to convince me to stay instead of agreeing with me that we could never work out.
After she’d walked out of Asher’s office, she’d wanted to run back in and tell him she was being a fool and that, of course, she would try again. But she’d forced herself to keep walking.
I want the kind of love my grandfather had for my grandmother.
Did you feel like this when my father left you, Mom? How long does it hurt this badly?
Emily remembered asking her mother if she ever wished she’d never met her father. Her mother had said, “How could I ever regret anything that made you? Life is full of miracles and tragedies. We decide which is which and who we become because of them.”
Mom, I’m trying to see the miracle in all of this. I wish you were here. I’ve always known where I was going and what I was doing. I don’t know anything beyond my decision to finally give up.
Celeste snapped her fingers beside Emily. “The car is downstairs. Are you ready to go?”
She forced a smile to her lips. “I didn’t get this gorgeous for nothing.”
Celeste laughed. “That’s the spirit. Let’s go see how the one percent parties.”
Emily turned away from the mirror. “I shouldn’t drink tonight.”
Celeste walked with her out of the bathroom and through the bedroom. “I’m with you on that. Are you going to be okay if Asher is there?”
Emily wrapped a shawl around her shoulders. “I’ll have to be, right? It’ll be fine. We didn’t end badly. We simply agreed not to try again.”
Celeste grabbed a handful of tissues and stuffed them in her clutch bag. “Just in case.”
“I’m fine,” Emily protested. They walked out of the apartment to the elevator.
“I didn’t say you weren’t. It’s been a long week for me, too. Give me a glass of wine and I might start bawling.” She winked at Emily. “Especially if all the rich men there are married.”
Emily slid into the back of a town car beside Emily. “What do you think tonight will be like?”
“Hard to say. Sophie’s charity auctions are usually well attended and at the top of everyone’s social calendar. It might not be like that this year.”
Emily clutched her purse to her lap. “Because of me?”
“Do you want me to lie or can you handle the truth?”
“Lie.”
“It has nothing to do with you.”
No wonder Asher agreed to end our relationship. “I hope there’s a good turnout, for Sophie’s sake.”
“Me, too.”
They drove the rest of the way in tense silence. Celeste seemed to understand that Emily was too nervous to make light chitchat. There was a long line of cars in front of the auction building. “This is a good sign, right?” Emily asked.
“Absolutely,” Celeste said in a positive tone. “Put on your brightest smile because it looks like the press is taking pictures as we go in.”
Asher saw Emily the moment she entered the building, but he didn’t make a move to meet her. He had never seen her look more beautiful, but he had a feeling he would spend the rest of his life thinking that, each time he saw her. It took everything he had not to go to her, but he had a plan, and he was sticking to it. The crowd that filled the large bidding room spilled out into the surrounding rooms. Some of his mother’s usual crowd was there. Those who had decided not to attend would regret their decision when the papers reported on those who had. Alessandro and Victor had not only invited their family, their enormous family, but had also invited their friends.
Brice Henderson came to stand beside him. “I didn’t realize you knew half of these people.”
“I don’t,” Asher said. He looked across the room to where Dominic and his wife were standing with Alessandro, Victor, and their wives. Alessandro noticed his attention was on them and raised a glass in salute. “But I have family who does.”
“Are you sick?” Brice asked.
“No.”
“Because you look like shit.”
“Thanks. I haven’t been sleeping well.”
“Is it Trundaie? You said we had that under control.”
“We do.”
“Is it the New England site? Didn’t you sort that out?”
“I did.”
“I’m on schedule with the compound we need for Trundaie.”
“Good.”
“So, what the fuck is the problem?”
Asher took a deep breath and found Emily again in the crowd. “I’m going to ask Emily to marry me tonight.”
“Here?”
“Yes.”
“No wonder you look like you’re about to have a stroke.” He looked around the room as if searching for someone, then said, “Hey, is that James West? He’s been trying to contact me, but I haven’t had time to talk to him yet. What do you think he wants?”
Asher pulled his gaze away from Emily long enough to confirm the son of one of the largest oil refinery companies in the US was indeed in attendance. “I have no idea, but I’ve been meaning to talk to you about something, Brice. After Trundaie, I’ll be making some changes in our policies and being more selective about which countries we partner with.”
“Thank God.”
Kenzi came to stand beside Asher. “Everything is set up. Emily’s donation is scheduled as the last item. When it is brought out, a screen will come down behind the podium and out here in the hall. That’s your cue to walk up to the podium.”
Asher studied Kenzi’s face, noting the line of concern on her forehead. “I love her, Kenzi.”
Brice said, “That’s my cue,” and quickly stepped away.
Kenzi’s gaze went from Asher to Emily and back. “I know, and I can see why. She’s wonderful. I just don’t want you to get hurt again.”
A smile spread across Asher’s face as he realized something. “You’re worried about me.”
Kenzi met his eyes. “You’re my brother. Of course I’m worried about you.”
Asher put his arm around Kenzi, pulled her to his side, and gave her a kiss on the top of the head. “I love you, too.”
Kenzi pulled back and peered up at Asher. “Whoa. Did you just say what I think you said? I’m marking this date down on the calendar.”
Asher sought out Emily again. She was beside Celeste, speaking to a senator. “You can, but it won’t be the last time I say it. I took having a family for granted, but I won’t anymore. I know that not everyone is as lucky as we are.”
“You keep talking like that, and I’ll have to forgive Emily.”
Kenzi’s love for Asher rocked him back on his heels. He took his family and their support for granted, but he wouldn’t anymore. Kenzi wanted to protect him from getting hurt again, but she also needed to move past her anger. “You need to, Kenzi, because she’s not going anywhere.”
Chapter Twenty
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As the auction neared its conclusion, Emily told Celeste she had to go to the bathroom, and slipped out of the main room and into the hall. Her heart was pounding wildly in her chest and her palms were sweaty. She didn’t need the bathroom; she was preparing to bolt.
Being in the same room as Asher and knowing it was over between them was a torture she couldn’t endure one moment more. She knew she should stay and be there while
her sculpture was auctioned off, but she couldn’t do it. When the auction concluded, there wouldn’t be another reason for her to see Asher. It would truly be over. She headed for the main exit and her escape.
“Emily,” Ian stepped into her path, “have you met the Corisis? They were asking about you.”
“No,” Emily said. She looked behind her, then at the exit. “I’m sure I’ll meet them afterward.”
Lance walked up beside Ian. “Emily, I have a question about your sculpture. Do you mind walking over to see it with me? It’ll just take a minute.”
